Minister Şimşek's response to Özel on 'MASAK report': 'Lies and slander...'

Minister of Treasury and Finance Mehmet Şimşek responded to the accusations made by CHP Chairman Özgür Özel regarding a MASAK report with a harsh statement on social media. Şimşek stated, "The remarks made by the main opposition leader against me are a direct assassination of character and cannot be presented under the guise of politics."

MASAK REPORTS ARE PREPARED INDEPENDENTLY

Drawing attention to the provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code regarding the confidentiality of investigations, Şimşek made the following statement:

"MASAK transmits the information requested by the prosecutor's office directly to the prosecutor's office without seeking the opinion, directive, or approval of any authority."

He further noted that the report is merely a technical document containing data and does not contain any interpretation.

'LYING AND SLANDERING IS UNBECOMING'

Minister Şimşek also underscored that MASAK reports have the same legal effect and validity regardless of whether they are prepared by an expert or an assistant expert. Addressing Özel at the end of his statement, Şimşek said:

"The leader of the main opposition party should use a more respectful language; lying and slandering is unbecoming of Mr. Özel." 

WHAT DID ÖZGÜR ÖZEL SAY?

CHP Chairman Özgür Özel had used the following expressions regarding Mehmet Şimşek in his statement on Halk TV:

"An assistant expert is assigned under his own instruction. A false and incorrect MASAK report is signed and sent. Şimşek has remained silent on the use of MASAK, which is under his authority, in a political operation."